Her huge smile in total awe of Wembley demonstrates the inspirational legacy of the Lionesses' thrilling Euro 2022 victory over Germany. Eight-year-old football fanatic Evie Jackson was filmed by her dad as she set eyes on the stadium - and its record crowd - for the first time on Sunday evening.
Opening a door from a concourse to take their seats, Evie, clutching her match programme, stops then looks around and turns back towards the camera with a sense of wonderment etched over her face. "Why's it so big?" Evie asks her dad, Matt, before they take their seats to watch England's women make history.
Evie, a promising goalkeeper from Leigh, Wigan, was gifted a ticket for the European Championship Final after a Twitter appeal. Dad Matt said she was 'amazed' at the sheer size of Wembley.
The Lionesses, he said, have 'changed the landscape of women's sport' with the 2-1 extra-time win over Germany. Evie and Matt capped their tournament experience of trips to Leeds United’' Elland Road and St George's Park by witnessing England's famous victory over Germany on Sunday.
Evie, meanwhile, said the historic win would inspire confidence in girls to get out and play. Matt had appealed on Twitter to find tickets for the final and said he had nearly given up hope when a stranger contacted him to offer two tickets free of charge.
"I feel really lucky and I didn’t know what was happening because I thought it was going to be fake," said Evie ahead of the final. "I was so excited when I heard that we got the tickets. I was crying because I thought that we wouldn’t have been able to go.
"I think that they've set up women’s football and it is crazy to see how far women’s football has come. It also inspires a lot of young girls that might want to play football but might not feel confident, now they have a chance."
Matt, an operations manager at a bank, coaches Evie's team, Astley and Tyldesley under-10's. He told the Press Association: "Evie was amazed at the size of Wembley. (The Euro final) was not just a day that's made history, but a day that I think will change the landscape of women's sport."
Evie was confident ahead of the match that the Lionesses would emerge victorious and successfully predicted the scoreline. One of Evie's favourite players, Manchester United's Ella Toone, who used to play for Evie's team when she was a young girl, even scored the opener in the 62nd minute.
"(For her) to come on and score a wonder goal, you couldn't write it," Matt tweeted. "A day we'll never forget."
Manchester City striker Chloe Kelly's extra-time goal sealed a 2-1 victory as the Lionesses claimed the first major trophy in their history and the first for a senior England side since the 1966 World Cup triumph over West Germany.
Parents, meanwhile, have spoken of their pride and hope for women's football after the win.
Rachael Wilson, from Preston, Lancashire, was with her daughter Holly, who plays for Manchester United’s under-13 girls. Rachel said: “We are so proud of the team for showing that girls and women can play football."
Mary Caine, 33, from Macclesfield, Cheshire, who watched the game with her daughter Sam, eight, said: “The girls finally brought football home. We’re delighted, it’s historic, it was magic in there and a breakthrough moment for women’s sport.”
Ava-Rose Mann, six, from Manchester, said it was “the best day ever”. Ava-Rose plays every Saturday for an under-8s team.
She said: “My favourite players are Ella Toone and Russo – especially Russo.” Her mother Chantell Barlass, 31, said: “We came from Manchester and left at 7am this morning. We follow England and we go and watch Manchester United, so she knew Russo, Ella Toone and Mary Earps.
As the party continued last night, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall congratulated the England women’s team on their “sensational” Euros final win, adding they will “inspire a generation”.
Alongside four photographs from the match, a tweet by the Clarence House Twitter account read: “Congratulations to the victorious @Lionesses! Your teamwork, determination and sportsmanship will inspire a generation. You have made us all proud.”
Former England international and TV pundit Alex Scott, meanwhile, said the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 victory would be a game changer in terms of raising the profile of women’s football. She told BBC Breakfast: “These Lionesses have raised the bar. They have changed the way women’s football is viewed in this country. The train has left the station and it is gathering pace.
“It will be tragic to take any steps back after what we have witnessed yesterday and through the whole tournament. There must be an opportunity for every single girl to play football if they want to."
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